Requires governing board of public institution of higher education to notify Secretary of Higher Education of proposed merger or consolidation.

S 2276 requires governing boards of New Jersey's public higher education institutions to notify the State Secretary of Higher Education **14 days** before starting any merger or consolidation. The notice must include the **reason for the merger**, **projected costs and financial impacts**, and **effects on students and employees**. This bill applies directly to public colleges and universities planning to combine operations or merge campuses. It creates a procedural requirement for transparency but does not alter merger approval processes or outcomes. (Introduced January 13, 2026; pending Senate Higher Education Committee review.)